Self-Acceptance. Victor Ashear
Central Recovery Press (CRP) is committed to publishing exceptional materials addressing addiction treatment, recovery, and behavioral healthcare topics, including original and quality books, audio/visual communications, and web-based new media. Through a diverse selection of titles, we seek to contribute a broad range of unique resources for professionals, recovering individuals and their families, and the general public.
For more information, visit www.centralrecoverypress.com.
© 2015 by Victor Ashear
All rights reserved. Published 2015.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
Publisher: Central Recovery Press
3321 N. Buffalo Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89129
20 19 18 17 16 15 1 2 3 4 5
ISBN: 978-1-937612-92-4 (e-book)
“I Am Me” from Self-Esteem by Virginia M. Satir. Copyright © 1970, 1975, 2001 by Virginia Satir. Used by permission of Celestial Arts, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.
“How I Perceive and Manage My Illness” by Esso Leete. Reprinted with permission from Schizophrenia Bulletin.
Photo of Victor Ashear by Janet Ashear. Used with permission.
Photo of Vanessa Hastings by Marcy Dorsey. Used with permission.
Publisher’s Note: This book contains general information about how acceptance of the self and the effects of mental illness can help facilitate recovery from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. The information is not medical advice and should not be treated as such.
Central Recovery Press makes no representations or warranties in relation to the medical information in this book; this book is not an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you think you or someone close to you may be suffering from any medical condition, you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information in this or any book.
Central Recovery Press books represent the experiences of their authors only. Every effort has been made to ensure that events, institutions, and statistics presented in our books as facts are accurate and up-to-date.
Cover design by David Hardy
Interior design by Deb Tremper, Six Penny Graphics
“The feeling of inferiority rules the mental life and can be clearly recognized in the sense of incompleteness and unfulfillment, and in the uninterrupted struggle both of individuals and humanity.”
—Alfred Adler
“The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.”
—Carl G. Jung
Table of Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Disclaimer
Orientation to Self-Acceptance
My Recovery from Anxiety and Depression
Life Purpose Questionnaire Pre-Test
Orientation to Self-Acceptance
Nathaniel Branden’s Levels of Self-Acceptance
Virginia Satir’s Poem on Self-Esteem
Skill Area One Factors That Promote Self-Acceptance
Introduction
Feeling Good about Past Accomplishments
Positive Self-Talk
Coping with Setbacks and Disappointment
Self-Care
Section Summary
Skill Area Two Factors That Undermine Self-Acceptance
Introduction
Focusing Only on Your Disabilities and Ignoring Your Strengths, Abilities, and Potential
Loss of Hope
Denial of Your Mental Illness
Engaging in Self-Destructive Behavior
Toxic Shame
Anger
Section Summary
Skill Area Three Building Healthy Relationships
Introduction
Establishing Relationships
Belonging
Helping Others
Trust
Coping with Rejection
Friendship
Personal Rights
Section Summary
Skill Area Four Self-Acceptance and Recovery
Introduction
The Recovery Process
Beliefs Regarding Mental Illness
Quiz: Harmful Myths about Mental Illness
Schizophrenia
Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Coming to Terms with Changes in Emotions and Personality
Coming to Terms with Changes in Thinking
Coming to Terms with Family Role Changes
Coming to Terms with Changes in Function at Work or School
Section Summary
Skill Area Five Developing Personal Recovery Goals
Life Purpose Questionnaire Post-Test
Vanessa’s Reflections
End Notes
I experienced my first psychotic break in the mid-1960s. During the next few years I was hospitalized several times and, in the summer of 1968, I was picked up by the police in the street in Columbus, Ohio, and taken to a nearby state psychiatric hospital. Before long I was brought before a probate court, where I was apprised that I had schizophrenia and was being judicially committed as an insane person. I was further informed that schizophrenia is a deteriorating brain disease and that from time to time while I might appear to recover,